When I posted my last NBA team logo, the team almost switched cities on me. This time I pick a team that comes out with a new logo and new uniforms while I’m working on it. My timing is impeccable.
The Team
I don’t have much to say about the Wiz. I think they went from the best team name in the NBA to possibly the worst, which makes it easy to forget about their long history as the Bullets.
They always seem to have some interesting young players, but haven’t been able to do much in the playoffs. They could be dangerous in a few years if John Wall turns into an All-Star and stays with the team. This year they finished 23–59, but on a brighter note, center Javale McGee recently dunked 2 basketballs at once in the dunk contest. Good times.
I had to post this picture on the right because I was absolutely baffled by it. What this gray-haired old man is doing stepping foot on an NBA court with Bird is beyond me.
Past/Current Logos
In 1963 the Chicago Zephyrs (formerly the Packers) moved to Baltimore, Maryland, and became the Baltimore Bullets. There are certainly some things I would change about this logo, but it’s pretty awesome. After watching 5 seasons of The Wire, this logo seems fitting for Baltimore.
In the 1969/70 season, the Bullets adopted a new logo, and eventually moved to Washington D.C. in 73′. I can see why the team might not want actual bullets in their logo. I used to like this logo more but looking at it now, the s is pretty messed up. In 1978, the Bullets finished 44–38, and somehow went on a crazy playoff run to win their only championship, led by Elvin Hayes and Wes Unseld.
In 1995, the team announced that it would be changing it’s name. Owner Abe Pollin claimed that the high homicide and crime rate in D.C. in the 90′s made him uncomfortable with the name. The team held a contest to find a new name, eventually settling on Wizards. This name ended up being equally controversial because apparently Wizard is a rank in the Ku Klux Klan. Bad times all around. The team colors changed to match the Washington Capitals, and NHL team owned by Pollin. I’ve never really liked this name, or logo, or colors. Something about that W made by the wizard’s beard just pisses me off.
Here is the new logo the team released last week. It looks like they are trying to get closer to the old Bullets branding with the colors and typography. The wizard looks a little better, but I think they would have been better off starting with something new.
Redesign
It isn’t easy to make a wizard look cool. My idea from the get-go was to use the negative space from the overlapping Ws to create the shape of the wizard. I soon realized that a big white wizard with a pointy hat was not gonna be acceptable, so I had to work around that. The blue and red, and the simplified typography are athrowback to the old Bullets logo that I liked so much.
See the rest of my NBA logos here »
and 
in Cambridge, MA.
Mike- you always do such great work! I love your new Wizards logo- and your story behind the (de)evolution of the Bullets logo! You’re so funny! Well done!
Just wanted to say..well done. Designing a wizard for a sports team is difficult enough, making it look great is a feat in itself. I really love this logo.
I love the Wizards logo so much. Brilliant! Looks even better without the type.
Washington Wizards basketball, brought to you by Valvoline!
That “gray-haired old man” you speak of is none other than singing sensation Taylor Hicks. Silky smooth vocals, silky smooth fall-away jumper.
Although I really like the look of it, I’m affraid it’d look like an M in small or printed on back :/
Mike, great job on this one. Looking forward to seeing each new city.
I’d like to suggest something on this logo… What if you made the Wizards hands the same hands as the Bullets logo? Paying some homage in a subtle way.
(also, cant wait to see your Celtics redesign
I don’t think Valvoline would be too fond of this concept.
And no, that isn’t Taylor Hicks… #54 is Tom McMillen. He played for the Bullets from 1983-1986 and served in Congress after his playing days were over.
That Wizards logo is a billion times better. Really, really nice.
It is crazy how much better your logo is than the one the team decided to go with… Amazing job!
A Wizard upgrade, but people would joke that the ball is falling on his head.
This looks so much better than the one they have now
Excellent image! Such a clever mix of wizard and W. I like Andt’s suggestion for the hands.
The type needs a lot of help. It’s difficult to make type (letters made with fonts) work in logos like these. Custom letters are better. Maybe get a lettering artist to assist on the next one.
Brilliant stuff!
The W, the shapes, the colors, the wizard : very nice.
But make the type better or simply get rid of it!
I like the art. i would like to see a a different type treatment, perhaps below it, and simpler without the initial cap, which i think competes too much with the w art.